9 May 2007

Stories from 9 May 2007

Saudi Arabia: The Weak-End

“It wasn't unexpected at all, at least not to me: several members of the Shoura Council decided to use the religion card against a proposal to change the Kingdom’s official Thursday-Friday weekend to Friday and Saturday. It is truly a pity how some people in this country would shove religion...

Saudi: Cooling off in a Swimming Pool

Saudi-based blogger Nzingha ridicules a report by a BBC correspondent about life in Saudi. “You will all be happy to know that as you plunge yourself deeply into the pools across the country to escape the summer heat you are not only cooling off but you are part of a...

Qatar: The Wages of Hard Labour

Qatar-based blogger e46M3 sheds light on wages workers in Qatar reap for their hard labour. “From today's Arabic daily al-Raya: * Labor foreman, salary 800 Riyals (approx $220), working hours 5am to 5pm. * Builder, salary 700 Riyals (approx $190), working hours 6am to 6pm. No off day. * Builder,...

Bahrain: MPs Walk Out of Session in Protest

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif keeps us up-to-date with the latest fiasco in the Bahraini Parliament. Eighteen MPs walked out from a session yesterday in protest. “What apparently happened this morning according to an informed source is that the Asala bloc said that the Wefaq demand for interrogation was unconstitutional...

Egypt: Monem sends SOS

‘Today, blogger Monem was ordered 15 days extended detention in Torah Mahkoum prison under conditions he described as “unbearable by any human being”. Monem sends SOS to Rights and Civil Society Organisations,’ writes Egyptian blogger Nora Younis. Abdulmonem Mahmood, a Muslim Brotherhood blogger, was arrested for articles he wrote online.

Kuwait: What Doesn't Kill You

“What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Right?” debates Kuwait-based blogger Ansam. “Agreeing on that it will make you stronger… So more experiences throughout life may hurt you more and more… and when in the process of getting hurt, you are somehow less vulnerable every time it hits… It makes...

Iraq: A Second Adhamiya Wall

A second wall is being built around Adhamiya, in Baghdad, Iraq, announces Iraqi blogger Ladybird. “This is a dream comes true to the Iranians, Ahdamiya right now and in this unusual circumstances is the last hold for the Sunnis in Baghdad Rasafa half , all this problems in Ahdamiya because...

Egypt: War on Bloggers

Egyptian blogger Nora Younis reports about a full-fledged war against bloggers in her country. “The war on bloggers started in Egypt and every morning brings a new episode. While we are campaigning to get our fellow blogger Monem out of jail we get the news he goes on hunger strike...

Myanmar: Military trainings for locals

  9 May 2007

BurmaNet reported about locals being ordered for military trainings in Ayataw Township.”The authorities of Ayataw Township, Monywa district in central Burma’s Sagaing Division, ordered local people to supply one person from each village for military trainings.” People are puzzled and suspicious about this military action.

Hong Kong: Student Press on Sex

  9 May 2007

The Chinese University Student Press recently put a sex column in their magazine. The mainstream media has picked up the issue and condemn the student press obscene. Charles picked up the discussion at inmediahk.net and commented that the student press shouldn't be market oriented [zh]. While the Chinese University student...

South Korea: Allow Chaebol to Own Bank

  9 May 2007

Jamie from Two Koreas comments about the recent agreement between Chaebol (national corporates) and right wing presidential candidates to own financial institutions such as bank: at the moment the banking sector is overwhelmingly foreign owned, but even where the government owns banks it runs them in the same way, investing...